Monday, November 4, 2013

IMMIGRATION - JUSTICE FOR DEEPAN

Interview with Canadian born man Deepan Budlakoti we talk about, IRB, CBSA, CSC, Immigration, Jail,Amnesty, MP­, and much more

"At the end of the day, all I am asking for is to get back my citizenship and to be allowed to live a normal life." - Deepan Budlakoti

Deepan Budlakoti is an Ottawa born man who is now facing deportation to India, a country where he has never lived, has no family and where he is not even a citizen. The only thing stopping his deportation at this point, is that India is refusing to issue a travel document for him.

In the meantime, his life is in limbo: he is under imminent deportation, under a strict curfew, obliged to live with his parents, and has no access to basic social services.

Deepan is a member of our community, and we stand with him as he fights to remain with his family and friends in Ottawa and uphold his full dignity! We reject the unjust and racist policies that seek to dehumanize and throw him out of our community and country!

Want to get involved?
Check out Justice for Deepan at www.justicefordeepan.org Spread the word far and wide and encourage friends and allies to sign our support statement! If you haven't already, like our facebook page: www.facebook.com/JusticeForDeepanBudlako­tihttps://twitter.com/Justice4Deepan

Press Release. DEEPAN BUDLAKOTI ONE STEP CLOSER TO FREEDOM

Ottawa, 1 November 2013 - Deepan Budlakoti walked out of the immigration board a little closer to being a free man today. Although the Board stopped short of fully restoring his freedom, it agreed to lift his curfew, grant new sureties, and, importantly, allow him to move residence. It also reduced his reporting requirement to the Canadian Border Service Agency (CBSA). CBSA argued that all conditions should be maintained but it was over-ruled.

During the four hour hearing, Deepan’s legal team presented evidence that the CBSA had deliberately withheld key information from the Board and from Deepan, namely the fact that India had informed Canada that it did not recognize him as a citizen. While the Board acknowledged that CBSA had wrongly withheld information, it refused to accept jurisdiction over the broader context regarding Deepan’s status. If Deepan is a citizen and if he cannot be deported to India, he cannot legally be held in immigration detention.

Supporters and friends of the 24 year old Ottawa-born construction worker nevertheless greeted the decision as a victory which will make a tangible difference in Deepan’s every day life. The previous restrictions had made it difficult for him to find work and live his day-to-day life.

Deepan, who was born in Canada, is facing deportation to India, his parents’ country of birth, where he has never lived and is not a citizen. The Canadian government is claiming that his parents were employed by the Indian Embassy as household help at the time of his birth and that this means he is not a citizen of Canada. The Indian Ambassador at the time has stated that the Budlakotis had left the Embassy’s employ some months before Deepan’s birth. India has also informed Canada that he is not a citizen of India.

In separate proceedings at the Federal Court, Deepan’s legal team is challenging the deportation order on constitutional grounds, asking the Court to declare that Deepan is a Canadian citizen.